Asus Zenbook 14 (2026) Review Praises Light Build but Flags Battery and Value

The base model costs £799.99, about $1,080 or AU$1,500, and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X1 CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 50Wh battery and 512GB of M.2 storage. Asus also lists a mid configuration at £1,399.99, about $1,900 or AU$2,600, with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 CPU, and a max configuration at £1,499.99, about $2,030 or AU$2,800, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 386H. Both higher-end models have 70Wh batteries and backlit keyboards, while the Snapdragon model does not have a backlit keyboard. Each configuration comes in Zabriskie Beige, Arctic Blue, or Komodo Coral. Preorders are open now; availability in the US and Australia has not been confirmed.

TechRadar said the Zenbook 14 is designed as an ultraportable with a mid-range price that does not compromise on performance. The review highlighted the laptop's soft texture and unusually vibrant colorways, as well as a construction that blends strength and lightness better than most 14-inch laptops. But it also noted that the machine is not as thin as some might expect, and that thick feet underneath add bulk. The keyboard flexes while typing, which the reviewer described as a little disconcerting.

For a highly portable laptop, the Zenbook 14 has a limited but sensible selection of ports: one USB-A, two USB-C ports that support power delivery and display signals, an HDMI output, and a headset jack. The review considered the port choices wisely chosen for everyday use.

In everyday tasks, TechRadar found the Zenbook 14 competent. It can handle basic productivity and browsing, as well as 4K streaming, but it struggles with even light gaming. That limitation is not surprising because the laptop relies on integrated graphics and has no dedicated GPU. The review added that the Zenbook 14 remains composed under heavy workloads. Its fans become audible in those situations, but they are quieter than many competing laptops, and temperatures stay cool, with only a few hotspots that avoid commonly touched surfaces.

The 1920 x 1200 OLED display is sharp enough for a 14-inch screen, according to the review, and offers the vividness and contrast expected from OLED technology. Reflections can be visible at times, but TechRadar said the maximum brightness level should keep them from disrupting viewing too much.

Battery life is one of the main drawbacks. In TechRadar's movie-loop test, the Zenbook 14 lasted just over 12 hours, which the review called short compared with many competitors. The Asus Zenbook A14, a similar machine in many ways, more than doubled that time in the same test. Because the A14 is similarly priced to the Zenbook 14, TechRadar concluded that the A14 offers better value. The review said the Zenbook 14 is the better choice only for buyers who want a slightly more solid body; in all other respects, the A14 would be the better option.

The review also pointed to the HP OmniBook 7 as a rival that has appeared in recent sales at a similar price. TechRadar described the OmniBook 7 as a fantastic all-rounder that is hard to beat at this point in the market. For the Zenbook 14, the verdict was that it is a capable workaday machine whose unique construction and ultraportable design stand out, but that buyers may be better off spending their money elsewhere given the alternatives.